A coronial inquest has found that the death of Esther Marie Wallace, whose disappearance sparked a major search operation in New South Wales' Central West in late 2022, was not the result of suspicious circumstances. NSW Deputy State Coroner Rebecca Hosking handed down her findings after examining the circumstances surrounding Wallace's disappearance, the emergency response, and the search operation that ultimately led to the discovery of her body.
Wallace, 47, travelled with her partner, Alan Smith, to the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area near Orange on the night of 29 November 2022. After smoking cannabis earlier that evening, the pair began walking the Federal Falls Loop Track shortly after midnight despite freezing conditions, with temperatures reported to be around minus 4 degrees Celsius. Wallace was wearing sandals and light clothing, making the conditions particularly dangerous.
During the return journey, the couple wandered off the marked trail and became disoriented in dense bushland. According to the coroner's findings, Wallace became frightened and panicked after realising they were lost. As daylight approached, the pair disagreed about which direction to take. Smith believed they needed to walk uphill toward the car park, while Wallace wanted to head in another direction. She eventually sat down and refused to continue walking. Smith left her sitting on his high-visibility jacket with a torch while he climbed uphill to seek help. He returned twice in an attempt to persuade her to come with him, but she declined. After reaching the car park, he charged his phone, searched for her again, and reported her missing shortly before 8am.
A large-scale search involving NSW Police, the State Emergency Service (SES), the Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and Forestry Corporation NSW began immediately. Specialist search-and-rescue teams searched rugged terrain on foot, used helicopters and drones, and combed dense bushland over a 12-day period. During the search, investigators recovered Wallace's jacket, headband, blouse, underwear and the torch left with her. Her body was eventually found about 1.7 kilometres from the car park, partially covered by fallen logs in remote bushland.
The post-mortem examination could not establish a precise medical cause of death. However, the coroner determined that exposure to the elements, hypothermia and dehydration were the most likely contributing factors. There was no evidence of foul play, and investigators found nothing to suggest another person had caused her death.
Deputy State Coroner Hosking praised the persistence and professionalism of the emergency responders, noting they continued searching well beyond the period when many operations would normally be suspended. She concluded the search was appropriately planned, adequately resourced and conducted according to accepted search-and-rescue practices. No recommendations were made following the inquest.
The findings provide closure for Wallace's family while recognising the extraordinary efforts of emergency personnel and volunteers who spent nearly two weeks searching the difficult terrain. The case also serves as a reminder of the risks associated with bushwalking in remote areas, particularly at night and during extreme weather conditions.
